If you’re just starting your homesteading journey, congratulations! You’re about to embark on one of the most rewarding, self-sustaining lifestyles there is. Establishing a homestead may feel overwhelming at first, especially when it comes to figuring out what to grow. Don’t worry — choosing crops doesn’t have to be complicated. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best crops for beginner homesteaders like you, focusing on plants that are easy to grow, versatile, and provide a good yield. Let’s get your hands in the soil!
1. Tomatoes: The Beginner’s Favorite
Tomatoes are arguably the perfect crop to kickstart your homesteading experience. They are easy to grow, versatile in the kitchen, and yield a lot of produce. Plus, there are endless varieties — from juicy beefsteaks to cherry tomatoes that are great for snacking.
To start with tomatoes, you can either grow them from seeds or buy young plants from a nursery. If you’d like a more straightforward option, consider starting with varieties like Roma or Cherry Tomatoes, as they tend to be more disease-resistant and easier to manage. You’ll need some good-quality soil and a sunny spot, as tomatoes love full sunlight.
If you’re growing tomatoes, consider getting a few tomato cages or stakes to support the plants as they grow. You can easily find highly rated options on Amazon, like the K-Brands Tomato Cage, which is adjustable and has great reviews from thousands of gardeners.
2. Zucchini: Bountiful and Beginner-Friendly
Zucchini is another fantastic choice if you’re new to homesteading. It’s one of those crops that produces in abundance, often leaving you with more than enough for your family, friends, and neighbors. Zucchini is low-maintenance and doesn’t require much more than regular watering and a sunny location.
Start by planting zucchini seeds directly in the soil once the frost has passed. This crop thrives in fertile, well-drained soil, so make sure you’ve got some good compost mixed in. A good watering wand, like the Melnor RelaxGrip Watering Wand, can make watering your plants easy and efficient without disturbing the soil.
3. Herbs: Basil, Mint, and Oregano
For beginners, herbs are a wonderful way to get acquainted with gardening. They require minimal space and are pretty forgiving. Basil, mint, and oregano are excellent choices because they grow well in different conditions and can be used in a wide variety of dishes.
Mint, for instance, grows like a weed, so you might want to consider planting it in a container to prevent it from taking over your garden. Basil loves the heat and sunlight, while oregano is quite hardy and doesn’t require much fuss. A raised garden bed can be ideal for herbs if you’re working with limited space. Products like the Best Choice Products Raised Garden Bed have plenty of positive reviews and are available on Amazon.
4. Radishes: Fast-Growing and Rewarding
If you’re looking for instant gratification, radishes are perfect. They’re among the fastest-growing crops, taking as little as 25-30 days from seed to harvest. Radishes are also great for teaching you about succession planting, meaning you can sow seeds every couple of weeks for a continuous supply.
Plant your radish seeds in loose, well-drained soil and make sure they get enough sunlight. They don’t require much space and can even be grown in containers. Consider using a good seed starter kit, like the Jiffy Seed Starter Greenhouse, to make things easier, especially if you’re not sure how to get started with seedlings.
5. Lettuce: Simple and Quick to Grow
Lettuce is another easy and productive crop for beginner homesteaders. It’s great for a continuous harvest and can grow well in both garden beds and containers. Varieties like Buttercrunch or Romaine are especially beginner-friendly.
One great thing about lettuce is that it grows quickly. You can harvest young leaves and enjoy them within just a few weeks. Lettuce prefers cooler weather, so plant in early spring or late summer. To protect it from pests, you can use a garden netting cover like the Agfabric Garden Insect Barrier, which helps prevent bugs while allowing sunlight and air to pass through.
6. Green Beans: Productive and Problem-Free
Green beans are a homestead staple that’s both productive and easy to grow. They require very little maintenance and grow quickly. Bush beans, in particular, are a great option for beginners because they don’t require much staking or trellising compared to pole beans.
Green beans thrive in warm temperatures and need a decent amount of sunlight, so plant them in a sunny spot in your garden. If you’re working with a smaller space, vertical gardening is a great option. You can use a garden trellis like the Panacea Folding Trellis from Amazon, which is both practical and affordable.
7. Potatoes: Starchy and Satisfying
Potatoes are incredibly satisfying to grow, and they require relatively little effort. You can grow them in the ground, in raised beds, or even in containers. If you want to try a no-dig approach, you can layer potato pieces under straw or compost, and they’ll happily produce tubers with minimal work.
To plant potatoes, you can use seed potatoes and plant them in a trench. As the plants grow, add more soil or straw to keep the tubers covered. Consider using potato grow bags if you’re limited on garden space. The VIVOSUN 10-Gallon Potato Grow Bags are popular on Amazon and come with handy flaps so you can check on the growth without disturbing the plant.
8. Peppers: Versatile and Colorful
Peppers, both sweet and hot, are wonderful crops to grow. They’re colorful, and they provide a huge range of flavors and uses in the kitchen. Bell peppers are a great choice for beginners because they’re resilient and productive.
Peppers love the heat, so plant them in a spot where they’ll get plenty of sunlight. They also prefer well-drained soil. If you’re growing multiple pepper varieties, you might want to label them, as hot peppers and sweet peppers can look quite similar. The GardenMate T-Type Plant Labels are durable and easy to use for this purpose.
9. Strawberries: Sweet Rewards
Nothing beats the flavor of fresh strawberries from your own garden. Strawberries are easy to grow and can thrive in containers, raised beds, or hanging baskets. The key is to give them enough sunlight and space to spread out.
Strawberries prefer well-drained soil and require a bit of patience as they establish. If you want to make things easier, consider growing everbearing varieties that provide fruit throughout the season. To keep them off the ground and safe from pests, a raised strawberry planter like the Keter Urban Bloomer might be perfect for you.
10. Garlic: Plant It and Forget It
Garlic is one of those crops that practically takes care of itself. Plant it in the fall, and by the next summer, you’ll have a healthy harvest of garlic bulbs ready to go. It’s a low-maintenance crop that adds great flavor to countless dishes.
Garlic prefers well-drained soil, so choose a sunny spot and give each clove a bit of space. Once planted, you can mostly forget about it until it’s time to harvest. A good garden hoe like the Rogue Garden Hoe can help you keep the area weed-free so your garlic can grow without competition.
11. Carrots: Crunchy and Colorful
Carrots are a fun crop for beginner homesteaders because they don’t take up much space and can be quite rewarding to pull from the soil. Carrots grow best in loose, sandy soil — heavy clay soil can make it difficult for them to grow straight and long.
Consider varieties like Nantes or Danvers, which are well-suited for beginners. A garden soil sifter like the Achla Designs Compost Sifter can help you get your soil just right, ensuring those carrots grow straight and tasty.
12. Cucumbers: Fresh and Abundant
Cucumbers are another easy and productive crop, especially if you have a trellis for them to climb. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing your cucumber vines wind their way up and produce large, juicy cucumbers.
Choose a sunny spot and provide plenty of water to keep those cucumbers happy. A vertical cucumber trellis like the Hydrofarm GCTB Trellis is perfect for supporting their vines and maximizing your yield, even in a small space.
Tips for Successful Homesteading
Now that you have a good list of beginner-friendly crops to start with, here are a few general tips to help ensure success in your homesteading endeavors:
- Start Small: It’s tempting to plant everything at once, but it’s better to start small and expand as you gain more experience. Focusing on just a few crops will prevent you from becoming overwhelmed.
- Use Quality Tools: Gardening is much more enjoyable with the right tools. Invest in a high-quality garden hose, gloves, and pruners. The Fiskars Bypass Pruners are excellent for trimming back plants as they grow.
- Fertilize Wisely: Many beginner-friendly crops benefit from a bit of extra nutrition. Organic fertilizers like Dr. Earth Home Grown Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer are highly rated and will keep your crops thriving.
- Learn to Preserve: Some of your crops may produce more than you can eat fresh. Learning how to can, pickle, or freeze your produce will help you enjoy your harvest year-round. The Ball Mason Jar Canning Kit is a good investment for getting started with preserving.
Conclusion
As a beginner homesteader, the crops you choose can set the tone for your entire gardening experience. Tomatoes, zucchini, herbs, and all the other crops mentioned in this guide are great choices for getting started without feeling overwhelmed. They’re productive, forgiving, and provide plenty of opportunities to learn about growing food.
Homesteading is a journey, and every season brings new lessons. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new crops once you get comfortable. Remember, the ultimate goal is to create a sustainable and rewarding lifestyle that brings joy and abundance to you and your family. Happy gardening!
If you’re ready to get started, consider picking up some of the tools and supplies mentioned in this article. Having the right equipment can make a world of difference as you begin your homesteading adventure.